"The key thing that we're focusing on at Pix, the one phrase that would define it most of all is creator-owned."

He continues to say, "The artwork, the ideas, the concepts, everything is owned by the creator and not by a giant corporation like Marvel or DC, which are owned respectively by Disney and Time Warner, the two largest media conglomerates."

Rugg says he thinks Pittsburgh is a good place for an Indy Comic Expo because of the strong population of artists and cartoonists.

"I wouldn't say it's a large population of cartoonists, but a very strong population of cartoonists. And part of that, is the community itself, both in comics and in the wider arts community, offer a lot of support to cartoonists and to people making art and there's overlap between art and Indy comics. The low cost of living, the art resources, I think Pittsburgh's just a good place for cartoonists to live and the result is you have a strong population of cartoonists now living here."

PIX will be held in the city's South Side neighborhood this weekend beginning at 10am Saturday.

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Visitors to the City County Building this February may find themselves captured by the rich history of Pittsburgh-based African American cartoonists.

In a new exhibit titled Beyond the Funny Pages: The Works of Arts and Life Captured in Comics, Toonseum collaborates with the City Parks office of special events to create a time capsule of art by black cartoonists living in the Steel City.

Earlier this month, Pittsburgh native and renowned animator Lou Scheimer passed away. He was best known for creating Saturday morning cartoons such as Fat Albert, He-Man and The Archies throughout the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s.

According to Joe Wos, executive director of the Toonseum, Scheimer’s shows were more than fun, animated cartoons.

“He brought a certain morality to cartoons and showed that they could go beyond violent action and silliness. Fat Albert addressed a lot of issues of inner city youth like smoking and stealing,” says Wos.

In the world of comic strip art, The Reuben Awards, are on par with the Oscars. Named after Rube Goldberg, the Reuben has been awarded by the National Cartoonists Society to artists such as Charles Schulz, Chester Gould and Bill Watterson.